<p>I have sent in my cornell application, but i forgot to include something and i want to ask for your advice. </p>
<p>I had a job in working for a science company, where i worked in a lab and assisted other researchers with their projects. It is not like some of the amazing independent research that some people have done, but it wasn't washing dishes either. I was actually assisting with the research and following the research protocal, and i learned to operate a number of lab equipments such as atomic absorption spectrometer. </p>
<p>I put this on my app, but all i said was "summer student" and the name of the company. From this you can't really tell what i did, and I'm afraid they'll just think i was washing dishes and doing clean up.</p>
<p>Now is it worth sending in an extra sheet explaining exactly what i was doing? Or does this job pale in comparison to the independent researches that others have done and would just make me look stupid for even emphasizing it?</p>
<p>If you think your application could use the boost, a well written letter to the admissions office explaining what you did (or even better a letter from the science company) could only help you.</p>
<p>There is something i forgot to mention... i signed a confidentiality agreement that i wouldn't disclose the nature of the research. So if i send in something to explain what I did, i can't say much. I'm afraid if I explain anything it's going to be really really brief. In that case is it still worth it to send it?</p>
<p>Can you get a recommendation letter from a supervisor or mentor or some researcher that you assisted at the place you worked? He/She could talk about your superior qualifications (intellect, dedication, work ethic, etc.) without discussing the substance of the research project. Just have this person send it directly to admissions indicating that it is being submitted in support of your application. (Make sure your full name and date of birth or some other identifying number is included in the letter so admissions knows where to file it.)</p>
<p>People send in supplemental letters all of the time when something notable happens (e.g., new award received) after the application is filed and I don't see why an additional recommendation letter can't also be furnished after the full application has been filed.</p>
<p>Tailing off of this, if I did a research project for a summer program, would it be recommended to send in my abstract? I didn't get to know my mentor very well and mostly did the experiment with the help of a lab technician, and since my mentor's name is on the abstract, she wouldn't give a particularly glowing recommendation for me if Cornell happened to ask. However, the abstract in itself is pretty decent, and I could definitely use the consideration for that one research award/scholarship. Since I mentioned the project in my short answer on the Common App, I don't know how useful sending in the abstract would be. Any recommendations? Is there any way that this could come back and hurt me?</p>
<p>So in that case, does this mean that Cornell likes supplemental information? I know that some schools (Stanford comes to mind) hate it when applicants send in additional information.</p>
<p>yeah, Stanford DOES hate supplemental info... they're anal and snobby like that.. (haha I used to think it was cool and professional.. but then I got rejected)
Anyway, I sent in an addiational rec, and a resume that detailed an internship and an individual senior research project, so I think you should fine in doing so</p>
<p>As a general rule, I think schools don't mind receiving supplemental information as long as it adds something important to the information that has been provided in the application. And they definitely want to know updated information, such as receiving an award or honor or being made a team captain after the time the applications were sent. </p>
<p>In the case of the OP, as the research wasn't mentioned originally, I still think it would be fine to send in an additional recommendation letter even though the application has been filed and, technically, the recommendation could have been obtained earlier. Particularly with recommendations, schools don't penalize the students when teacher recommendations arrive late. This happens all of the time. So they should readily accept a supplemental recommendation from a work supervisor or mentor.</p>
<p>february__rain, if you have already mentioned your research experience in your application, then probably, Cornell wouldn't need to see the actual abstract. On the other hand, if you think that it would serve as a basis to obtain a particular research award or scholarship that Cornell gives, you could write a letter explaining your interest in research in general and your experience in particular (but don't repeat too much of what you wrote in your application) and enclose your abstract. Just explain that you are writing because, if you were to be accepted, you would like to be considered for the particular award/scholarship.</p>
<p>Whoa, you and I could switch places right now and it would look exactly the same. I was also involved in a company doing "summer student" research. I also signed a confidentiality form because I worked for a research/development company, but I think as long as you don't get TOO specific about what you were doing, it's fine.
Maybe you could send a description of your work as "Additional Information."</p>
<p>I'm planning to send in an explanation of what I did at the science company, along with some other explanations. After reading my application I realized I left a lot of stuff really vague, so I really should fix it all at once. </p>
<p>Another question to you, when i offer an explanation of the nature of my work at the company, should I also explain that the reason my description is so short is that i signed a confidentiality agreement and therefore can't elaborate more?</p>
<p>nah don't bother..it'll sound weird. I actually had to sign confidentiallity forms for my stuff and just shortened my descriptions on the app. I really dont think they actually care that much about what exactly you do...</p>
<p>Having been a mentor with hs and college students working in my lab, colleges know exactly what HS students can typically do and certainly know that it's not their original ideas. Washing dishes went out 25 yrs ago : ) Most people will put your name on an abstract. It's the paper that gets published in the journal which really counts. Unless you made a significant contribution to the project don't expect that to happen. If you get waitlisted and really want to go, then I would try to get a recommendation letter. Confidentiality aggrements are also the norm. You can talk about anything that public ie published or on the companies website. Quite frankly, unless the admissions officer knows the field it won't mean anything and may not even understand what you are talking about.</p>